Best Activities This Week In Los Angeles - February 15
As always, Los Angeles is offering lots of great ways to indulge the senses this week. Chinese New Year is already underway, but Wolfgang Puck's WP24 is keeping the party going with a festive and fiery tasting menu, celebrating the "Year of the Fire Monkey." Wine connoisseurs, enthusiasts, and novices alike will all enjoy some great opportunities to imbibe this week. With National Drink Wine Day, a pasta bar pop up that includes a wine flight pairing, and a wine tasting event celebrating some of the Golden State's best, there's plenty to put on your social drinking calendar. Great stage productions are also in the works, with a world premiere performance of "Don Quixote," a humorously expert discussion of creatures of the night, and even the Man Upstairs will be making an appearance downtown with the Broadway hit "An Act of God." Eat, drink, and merrily enjoy your week L.A.!
Year of the Fire Monkey Tasting Menu and Wishing Tree
WP24 by Wolfgang Puck
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
900 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 743-8824
www.wolfgangpuck.com
It's been a week since Chinese New Year, but that doesn't mean the celebrations have to stop. Tonight, and through Friday, Wolfgang Puck's WP24 continues ringing in the "Year of the Fire Monkey" with festive tasting menus. Both eight- and six-course menus will incorporate elements of heat throughout, with fiery dishes like a Red Chili Braised Kurobuta Pork Shank with spicy Szechuan peppercorns, and "Szechuan Style" American Wagyu Rib Eye with toasted red chilis. As is tradition, guests will end their meal with a trip to the classic "Wishing Tree" adorned with red envelopes that will hold either a proverb, message, or a special gift like a specialty cocktail or a complimentary spa treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Spa. With spectacular panoramic views of the city from 24 floors up, a night at WP24 is the perfect way to start your week.
Hammer Presents: Deep Night with Dale Seever
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 443-7000
hammer.ucla.edu
What do a comedian, composer, and medical librarian have in common? They'll all be hanging out with host Dale Seever to discuss "Characters And Creatures Of The Night" at UCLA's Hammer Museum tonight. Seever, the gregarious alter-ego of James Bewley, will use his gift of gab to grill a fun lineup of talent about their various areas of expertise. Founder of UCB Matt Besser, comedian Kate Berlant, composer and musician Cyrus Ghahremani, and medical librarian and founder of Death Salon Megan Rosenbloom will all take the stage for a slightly intoxicated exploration of characters, emptiness, and the art of making it. DJ Nina Tarr will provide the music for the night, and a cash bar will be available throughout the evening. The non-ticketed program is free, and seating is first come, first served.
"An Act of God"
Ahmanson Theatre
135 North Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-4400
www.centertheatregroup.org
After a hit run in Broadway, God is finally coming to Los Angeles. Portraying the King of the Universe, Sean Hayes will take the stage, and will be joined by his devoted angels Michael (David Josefsberg) and Gabriel (James Gleason) to discuss mankind's greatest questions. In only 90 minutes, all of humanity's deepest questions will be answered by the Creator, who rejoices in finally setting the record straight. The show, obviously written by God, has been transcribed by Emmy Award Winner David Javerbaum, and is directed by Tony Award Winner Joe Mantello. Don't miss the show The Hollywood Reporter has dubbed "wickedly funny and irreverent," as it will only be around for a limited six-week engagement.
Celebrate National Drink Wine Day
Various Locations
www.theatricum.com
Proving there truly is a day for everything, today is National Drink Wine Day. Use this perfect excuse to head to one of several great restaurants and bars to honor this very important holiday. Tanzy Restaurant in Westwood will be extending their regular Wine Wednesdays offer to today, and select bottles of wine like Taittinger, Far Niente, and Cakebread will be 50% off all day. Select glasses will only set you back $5. Santa Monica beer garden Ashland Hill will also be celebrating the day with "Rose All Day," a buy one give one promotion of their new Rose Summer Water. Head there between 3pm - 6pm to also take advantage of their newly added "Social Hour" with discounted samplings of their most popular dishes. Pizza Romana is also a great choice to try out their recently implemented "Reverse Happy Hour," offering $6 wine pours and bites from 9:00pm to close. Each week, owner Alexander Palermo uses his Italian wine expertise to select red and white varietals, including this week's winners Franz Gojer-Glögglhof 2004 Spitz Merlot and Villa Matilda Greco di Tufo 2013. Another popular spot with thousands of wine and food options in Wally's in Beverly Hills. Wally's Wine and Spirits, long known worldwide for assembling the finest collection of wine, spirits and specialty foods, brought itself to the city of Beverly Hills, with a wine bar where you'll be able to enjoy a huge selection along with delicious eats.
Cento Pasta Bar Pop-Up
Mission Wines
1114 Mission Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(866) 367-9463
shop.theatricum.com
Mission Wines is welcoming Cento Pasta Bar chefs Avner Levi and Santos Uy for their first food and wine pop-up event of the year. Cento Pasta Bar is a pasta pop-up that blends fine Italian dining (alta cucina) with peasant cooking (cucina povera), resulting in high quality, chef-driven pasta dishes at affordable prices. The duo is bringing this fresh idea of pasta prep, along with wine, and culinary education to the restaurant tonight. For $25, guests will enjoy a sampling of three amazing pastas, as well as a flight of three great wines. Capacity is limited, so get your tickets now!
Los Angeles Ballet's World Premiere of "Don Quixote"
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 318-0644
www.losangelesballet.org
Tonight, The Los Angeles Ballet presents their world premiere of "Don Quixote." Obsessed with medieval stories of chivalry, "Don Quixote" sets out to revive the romantic ideal by becoming a knight errant, wandering in search of chivalrous adventures. What follows is a splendid tapestry of love, illusion, daring, and yes, adventure. Choreographed by the ballet's Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, this special version for the Los Angeles Ballet is true to its history, while also teaching us more about who Don Quixote was. Featuring the artistic talent of LAB's dancers and their impressive virtuosity, this story of gypsies, matadors, giant windmills, and incredible imagination is perfect for the whole family.
"We Love California" Wine Tasting
Esters
1314 7th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 899-6900
www.esterswineshop.com
Just because it's not National Drink Wine Day doesn't mean you can't enjoy some great wine, right? Esters loves California, and is sharing their love today with an afternoon wine tasting. Sit back in the art deco-style eatery and enjoy a lesson on wines from around the state. They'll be pouring wines from classic producers, newbies on the scene, and some that are just staff favorites. It's a great chance to learn about wines from new regions, taste some of your old favorites, and stock up on a few bottles for your personal collection. The $25 cost includes wine, cheese, and a sweet 10% off discount toward the purchase of the wines being featured. Reservations are not needed for this casual event, as folks can drop in any time between 3:00pm - 5:00pm to enjoy a guided tour of the wines by Esters' expert staff.
